Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Richard ZIMMERMAN

Jeffrey Richard ZIMMERMAN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10560037
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control logic circuit that is configured to generate control signals for controlling at least two inverters (e.g., 3-phase inverters) that are coupled in parallel. The control logic circuit is configured to sample output currents present in common load terminals of the inverters, and to compare the sampled currents to generated current references. The output currents may be sampled, and/or the current references generated, at a fixed rate. Errors between the sampled currents and current references are evaluated against hysteresis dead bands around the current references. The control signals are generated based on (i) retrieved modulator output values for a selected one of the inverters and (ii) the errors as evaluated against the hysteresis dead bands. The control logic circuit may implement first and second counters for coordinating the current reference generation, sampling the output currents, retrieving the modulator output values, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC
    Inventors: Emil Nikolov, Jeffrey Richard Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20190222140
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control logic circuit that is configured to generate control signals for controlling at least two inverters (e.g., 3-phase inverters) that are coupled in parallel. The control logic circuit is configured to sample output currents present in common load terminals of the inverters, and to compare the sampled currents to generated current references. The output currents may be sampled, and/or the current references generated, at a fixed rate. Errors between the sampled currents and current references are evaluated against hysteresis dead bands around the current references. The control signals are generated based on (i) retrieved modulator output values for a selected one of the inverters and (ii) the errors as evaluated against the hysteresis dead bands. The control logic circuit may implement first and second counters for coordinating the current reference generation, sampling the output currents, retrieving the modulator output values, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Emil Nikolov, Jeffrey Richard Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10263536
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control logic circuit that is configured to generate control signals for controlling at least two inverters (e.g., 3-phase inverters) that are coupled in parallel. The control logic circuit is configured to sample output currents present in common load terminals of the inverters, and to compare the sampled currents to generated current references. The output currents may be sampled, and/or the current references generated, at a fixed rate. Errors between the sampled currents and current references are evaluated against hysteresis dead bands around the current references. The control signals are generated based on (i) retrieved modulator output values for a selected one of the inverters and (ii) the errors as evaluated against the hysteresis dead bands. The control logic circuit may implement first and second counters for coordinating the current reference generation, sampling the output currents, retrieving the modulator output values, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Emil Nikolov, Jeffrey Richard Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20170141698
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control logic circuit that is configured to generate control signals for controlling at least two inverters (e.g., 3-phase inverters) that are coupled in parallel. The control logic circuit is configured to sample output currents present in common load terminals of the inverters, and to compare the sampled currents to generated current references. The output currents may be sampled, and/or the current references generated, at a fixed rate. Errors between the sampled currents and current references are evaluated against hysteresis dead bands around the current references. The control signals are generated based on (i) retrieved modulator output values for a selected one of the inverters and (ii) the errors as evaluated against the hysteresis dead bands. The control logic circuit may implement first and second counters for coordinating the current reference generation, sampling the output currents, retrieving the modulator output values, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Emil NIKOLOV, Jeffrey Richard ZIMMERMAN